USURY. See INTEREST.
U'TAll (named from an Indian tribe Utah, or Yuta [Utes ?], dwellers in mountains), a territory of the U. S., lying between hat. 37°-45° a. and long. 109°--114° w., containing. 84,416 sq.m., bounded n. by and Wyoming; e. by Colorado; s. by Arizona, and w. by Nevada. Its chief town and capital is Salt Lake City (q.v.). Utah is an immense basin, 4,000 to 5.000 feet above the level of the sea, surrounded by mountains, which at some points reach the altitude of 8,000 to 13,0G0 feet. Excepting the Green and Grand rivers, in the e. and s.e., Santa Clara river in the s.w., and the head branches of the Colorado, which flows through a cation 1200 feet deep, its rivers empty into the Great Salt lake, in the northern center of the territory; and similar salt lakes or inland seas. This great valley, which includes the new territory of Nevada, is formed by a branch of the Rocky mountains on the e., and the Sierra Nevada on the west. The formations are primitive and metamorphic, with secondary basins 15 or 20 in. wide. The principal mountains lying within the territory are the Humboldt range, 6,600 ft. high, in the w., and the Wahsatch in the s., 12,000 feet. There are numerous lakes, many thermal springs, and salt springs. The rocks are mostly primitive, and rich in granite, jasper, syenite, porphyry, and quartzes, showing everywhere evidences of vol canic action. There arc also ridges of carboniferous limestone containing calcareous spar; and near Salt Lake City occur bowlders of serpentine, fine gray granite, sandstones, conglomerates, talcose and striated slates, gypsum, limestone, and marble of every hue in large masses. Iron is abundant; and there have been found gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, inexhaustible quantities of bituminous coal, sulphur, alum, borax, and petro leum. Among the animals are the antelope, elk, deer, Rocky mountain sheep, cougar, catamount, wolves, foxes, beavers, porcupines; quail, grouse, swans, wild geese, peli cans, ducks; perch, pike: bass, and salmon-trout of 30 lbs. weight. Generally, vegeta tion is not luxuriant, and timber, except pines and firs in the mountains, scarce. The country hes aood grass for grazing, and some wild fruits. The climate is bleak and with deep snows and intense cold in winter, and heats in summer, accompa nied with storms and thunder and dust. The soil, as a whole, may be described as barren, with spots of remarkable fertility, producing GO to 100 bushels of grain to the acre. Much of the soil is strongly alkaline. The chief crops are wheat, oats, barley, maize, buckwheat, flax, hemp, fruits. Cattle and sheep are abundant. The chief manufactures are those required in it new country, as farming-implements, furniture, carriages, woolen goods. leather, steam-engines, and machinery and cutlery, in which are employed a large number of skilled English artisans.
The population of Utah consists almost entirely of (q.v.), governed by a hierarchy of which Brigham Young (q.v.) was long the head. ID 1860, the pop. was
40,295; in 1870, 86,786 (besides Indians). Most of the Mormons come from Great Britain, and many are from Sweden and the n. of Europe. Latterly there has been con siderable increase by immigration of the " Gentiles " or non-Mormon populaticn. Pro vision has been made for education in the foundation of the university of the state of Deseret—the name under which they propose to come into the American union—a free academy, and common schools. In 1870 there were ten newspapers. There is a United States territorial government, with governor, secretary, marshal, and judges, appointed by the president, and a legislative assembly, elected by the people. In 1875, there were 504 miles of railway, the Central Pacific crossing northern Utah. The taxable property, real and personal, was in 1877 assessed at $22,553,660. The Shoshone, Snake, and Yuta Indians number about 1200.
UTAH (ante) was originally a part of Upper California, and was acquired by the United States from Mexico by treaty in 1848 at the conclusion of the war with that country. The Mormons, driven from Illinois and Missouri, emigrated hither in 1847-48, and established themselves in what was then almost an unknown region, which they named Deseret. Under the superintendence of their high-priest, Brigham Young, Salt Lake City was soon founded; and in 1850 a territorial government was formed, over which he was appointed governor. In 1857, however, he set at defiance the federal authority, and it became necessary for the U. S. government to send an armed force into the territory to compel obedience. Since then there has always existed more or less difficulty in controlling the territory. In 1862 the Mormons formed a state constitution, and demanded admission to the union as the " state of Deseret." The refusal caused further unpleasant relations. During the past 10 years the opening of several mines in the has brought about the emigration of many " Gentiles" to Salt Lake City and the surrounding region, which has to some extent worked a change in Mormon author ity. Of the population in 1870, 56,084 were natives of the United States, and 30,702 foreign born; 44,121 males, and 42,665 females. About 41,000 were born in the terri tory, 2,247 in New York, 2,105 in Illinois, 1492 in Iowa, 1315 in Pennsylvania, 1133 in Ohio, and 908 in Missouri. Of the foreigners, 16,073 were English, 502 Irish, 2,391 Scotch, 1783 Welsh, 4,957 from Denmark, 1790 from Sweden, 613 from Norway, and 509 from Switzerland. The number of families was 17,210, with an average of 5.04 persons to each; and the number of dwellings was 18,290, with an average of 4.75 per sons to each. About 10,428 persons were engaged in agriculture, 5,317 in professional and personal. services, 1665 in trade and transportation, and 4,107 in manufactures and mining. By the census of 1880 the total population of the territory was 143,907, show ing an increase since 1870 of 57,121. The natives numbered 99,974,•the foreigners, • 43,933; males 74,471, and females 69,436.